Woman hurt in explosion at apartment

A WOMAN was recovering in hospital last night after an explosion at her home in central Edinburgh which sparked a major emergency services response.

Fire crews and paramedics rushed to the apartment on the Canongate in the Old Town district shortly after the incident yesterday morning. Police cordoned off much of the area around 10.45am as flames poured from the modern residential block close to the Scottish Parliament building.

The occupant of the first-floor flat was carried to safety by a member of the public before the emergency services arrived at the scene.

Nearby businesses and pubs were closed temporarily.

“The windows were blown outwards like there had been an explosion” one shop owner said. “A young lad rushed in and carried her out before the fire crews even arrived.”

The woman, in her 60s, was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary although her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Five other occupants of the building were treated at the scene after inhaling smoke but did not require to attend hospital.